Tragedy Essay

Tragedy : A Classic Tragedy
Many movies or stories are fit into a specific category. For example, there is comedy, drama,
romance, tragedy, and suspense. Each one of these genres have a significant meaning behind it.
Most people watch the typical comedy or drama genre, but not too many people enjoy tragedy.
This is because tragedy portrays an emotional feeling towards individuals. "Tragedy is a form of
drama based on human suffering that invokes an accompanying catharsis or pleasure in
audiences" (Wikipedia). Story lines with tragedy often makes the audience feel weary and sad.
Who would want to see a movie that is just going to bring their mood down? There are also
different forms of tragedy. A classic tragedy goes back into Ancient Greece. This type of tragedy is
about a hero whose good fortune turns into bad fortune. A perfect example of a classic tragedy
would be the film Troy. In order for a film to be a classic tragedy it has to have a few elements. The
main character has to be a good person who makes mistakes due to their imperfections. A classic
tragedy also involves people who are royal. Lastly, a classic tragedy has to have a dynamic
character who undergoes personal growth throughout the film. The film Troy involves all of those
elements so this is why it is a great example of a classic tragedy.
Moreover, the film is about a battle between Troy and Sparta. The whole conflict starts out when
Paris has an affair with Helen. Paris is the son of the king of troy, and Helen is from Sparta.
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The Tragedy Of ' Tragedy ' Essay
What is Tragedy? As defined on the Literary Devices website, tragedy in literature refers to a series
of unfortunate events by which one or more of the literary characters in the story undergo several
misfortunes, which finally culminate into a disaster of "epic proportions". The website also states that
tragedy is generally built up in 5 stages: a) happy times, b) the introduction of a problem, c) the
problem worsens to a crisis or dilemma, d) the characters are unable to prevent the problem from
taking over, and e) the problem results in some catastrophic, grave ending, which is the tragedy
culminated (Literary Devices, 2016). Although very similar to the aforementioned definition, I
personally define or relate the word "tragedy" to a more modern sense. This modern sense is an
individual that is unsuccessful with day to day life and seems to continuously be in an uphill battle.
The individual has their goals set but could never reach their full potential to reach that goal. They
get so consumed by the uncertainties in life and no matter how hard they try to overcome adversity
it still results in the set goals never being in sight and sadly never being met.
Tragic Hero For every tragic story involves "Tragic Hero". When we all think of the word hero, we
conclude that the story is going to have a happy ending, but unfortunately that is not the case in
tragic literature. According to Author Miller's Tragedy and the Common Man, the one

An American Tragedy Essay
There are many aspects of Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy that involve the moral decision
versus the immoral decision and God. The main theme that Dreiser maintains throughout the novel is
Immorality. Each character in the novel possesses one or more characteristics that show that he or
she is partially immoral. When combined, all these elements have a strong message, that there is
consequence to straying from God's path.Clyde Griffiths is the perfect example of how a person is
led from God's light. At the beginning of the novel, his character is the son of poor missionary
parents.
The family spends its' time on street corners, singing church hymns, and reading verses from the
Bible. Soon, however, we begin to see the growth of...show more content...
She is hopelessly in love with Clyde; Clyde is hopelessly in love with his family name and his
new circle of friends.Clyde's oversight of this problem leads to his ultimate downfall. He tries to
make Roberta abort the child, and it cannot be done, so Clyde begins thinking of others ways to
solve this "problem" he has created.
If Clyde had stayed with his parents, and lived a life devoted to God, he would have not
succumbed to corruption. He actually murders Roberta because he gives into lust and his desire for
Sondra Finchley, who represents the evil that Clyde is so enamoured by. Clyde meets his death, by
execution, as a result of his lies and bad choices.Theodore Dreiser is trying to make the audience
realize that morals are more important than the materialistic and unimportant things that people
throw their lives into. Every character is An American Tragedy has a problem of some sort. Clyde
wants social status, and will stop at nothing to get it. He is the main character of the novel, and
therefore the main theme, Immorality, is centered on his life and his actions.
Dreiser wants to show his audience that people make the wrong decisions all the time, without
realizing the consequences until it is too late. The entire book, the audience is led to believe that
Clyde will manipulate his way to the top. Then, all of a sudden, it is too late, and his life is shattered.

A Tragic Situation Essay
Tragedy is a description of an event that evokes a sympathetic feeling of emotion by the audience.
The events involve people emotionally who were not involved in the situation physically. In the
story of Antigone, Sophecles forces the audience to take pity on the poor girl's situation. This story
impacts the audience in such a way that the audience becomes emotionally enthralled in the plot of
the story. All of Steiner's, "Principle constants of conflict in the condition of man," (360) were
present in the tragic tale of Antigone. The conflicts confirm a tragic sense about the story. In atragedy
drama is experienced and the characters typically suffer extremely. Consequently, this can happen
because of a tragic mistake.
The first of the...show more content...
She made it very difficult for Creon to feel satisfied with her execution. Antigone told him that she
does not care if she dies because she already got what she wanted by burying her brother against
Creon's wishes. Even though she knew she was going to die she would die happy. Antigone won
the battle over her uncle and the power struggle he put her through. "Enough. Give me glory! What
greater glory could I win than to give my own brother decent burial?" (375–376) Antigone told her
uncle. Eteocles, Antigone's other brother, was buried a well. His burial was not illegal because was
not an enemy of Creon. Antigone tired tells him that every death deserves a proper burial no matter
who they are. He was much closed–minded and refused to listen to her. The conflict of Antigone
and Creon is a battle over power between man and woman. What makes this story even more
tragic was the power Creon held over Antigone and her fate. It was the power to decide whether
she should live or die. He had the chance to free her from her doom. Although he realized this too
late. When he realized this he gathered his men. He said to them, "Now– I'm on my way! Come,
each of you, take up axes, make for the high ground, over there quickly! I and my better judgment
have come round to this– I shackled her, I'll set her free myself. I am afraid...it's best to keep

Macbeth
According to the classical view, tragedy should arouse feelings of pity and fear in the audience.
Does Macbeth do this?
Tragedy has most definitely influenced the viewer's thoughts on Macbeth within this play. In
Shakespeare's Macbeth, the audience sees a gradual breakdown in the character of Macbeth himself,
due to the tragic events that unfold during the play. This has a direct effect on the audience's views
and thoughts of Macbeth, thus creating pity and fear within the audience. Macbeth, being a man and
a human being himself, is in–clined to some forms of temptation, to which man himself has quite
often succumbed. The guilt that Mac–beth experiences after the death of his beloved King Duncan
also experienced in every human's life,...show more content...
The events in which took place after this increase our pity of Macbeth. The audience sees a grown,
noble and mighty officer degraded into a pool of immense guilt.
Macbeth was, shortly after the murdering incident, driven insane by the immense guilt produced by
his withered conscience. The dagger that was used in the killing of King Duncan haunted him
before the murder took place. This tragedy in the play gives us both fear of where the sword came
from and pity for Macbeth's character that had degraded to such a point that he has become paranoid.
"Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch
thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible To feeling as to
sight? Or art thou but A dagger of mind, a false creation, Proceeding from the heat–oppressed brain?
..."
[II.i.33–39]
The events before the murder of Duncan, which include Macbeth's fear of killing Duncan, the timing
at–which it will take place; all of which these things made the audience fearful. Macbeth seemed
nervous in a way, for he loved his king and would do anything in his strength to protect him and his
family:
"The service and loyalty...your throne and state, children and servants, Which do but what they
should by doing everything Safe toward your love and hon–our..."
Macbeth [I.iv.22–27]
Macbeth knew that Duncan was a kind man, and Duncan thought that others were like him (as noble
and

Is Hamlet A Tragedy Essay
The play Hamlet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. The play is about a Prince who was
called from the school of Denmark to attend his father's funeral. He was shocked to see his Queen
mother already remarried to his uncle Claudius whom he suspects to be responsible for his father's
death. Hamlet then promised to take revenge on his father's murder.
The play Hamlet is considered as Aristotle's Poetics because it is a well written tragedy. According to
Aristotle, the most important element of the tragedy is plot and followed by others such as
character, diction, thought, song and spectacle. Aristotle defined tragedy as an imitation of an action
that is serious, complete and of a certain magnitude. Aristotelian tragedy is not a narrative...show
more content...
Hamartia is a flaws or character's own error which brings a terrible result. For example, Hamlet
hesitates to kill his cruel uncle leads to bring his own destruction. Stabbing Polonius behind the
curtain and his painful action towards his lover Ophelia and declaring that she should be sent to
nunnery which seems to have lost his mind. This leads to his downfall. The second concept
according to Aristotle is Anagnorisis/Recognition which is when the character recognizes the hard
truth. When Hamlet returns to Denmark after his ship is hijacked by pirates, he learns that
Ophelia has committed suicide because of her madness and over her father's death, he realized his
flaw of having mistakenly murder her father and he is unsuccessful in expressing his love and
proposing her for marriage. Another example is, by the end of the novel, Hamlet and audiences
both are convinced that Uncle Claudius killed his father and planning to kill him as well. Another
example is when Hamlet realizes and recognizes his faults after seeing his enemy actively seeking
justice and honor and

Tragedy of the Commons Essays
Garrett Hardin's article "The Tragedy of the Commons" illustrates the continuing problem of the
commons. The article clearly illustrates the effects of the exponentially increasing population such
as pollution and food. Possible solutions to the problems are stated in the article, but any and all
solution will be difficult to accomplish and may not be effective because of man's sense of freedom
and selfishness.
The commons is an area of land that belongs to the public as opposed to being owned by
individuals, which is private property. Garrett Hardin describes the 'tragedy of commons' as a
population problem and individuals over–exploiting a commons for their own personal gain. He
discusses the over–exploitation of resources, and...show more content...
Even with all of these negative aspects of over–grazing, farmers still choose to do so to gain a better
profit.
Pollution is a constant problem that the world faces; Garrett blames the majority of the pollution
problems on the population aspect of the 'tragedy of commons'. One of the main problems with
pollution is treatment. Many companies find it too expensive to treat their waste and so many
harmful chemical gasses, and other harmful wastes are released into the air, which can potentially
get into the water. This is problematic because it is the air we breathe in and the water we drink and
use day to day. Spending the money to treat the waste reducing these harmful effects is overlooked
causing the public to suffer the consequences because of companies concerns with their own gains.
In the article "Why the BP Oil Spill is a Tragedy of the Commons, Part II", Andy Mannle discusses
the 2010 oil spill crisis in the Gulf that effected and effects many companies and people. Mannle
points out in the first part of his article that these companies are earning large amounts of money
in drilling and selling oil; however, there were no crisis plans or funds collected in case of
emergencies. The funds would usually come from paying lands fees for example, but these
companies are drilling for free: they are not being charged to drill oil in the specific areas;
therefore, if something goes wrong it would cost

Greek Theater: Tragedy Essay
Greek theatre is based on religious and political performance with prestige playwrights. The roles
are always played by men who wear masks and costumes and the performance were always
outdoors. Greek theatre has had comedy and tragedy where comedies the heroes are ironic and
disengaged to the situations. With the tragedy, heroes often respond with emotions such as pride,
rage, lust, envy or grief. This essay will focus on the tragedy side of Greek theatre. Aristotle says
that tragedy "is not the imitations of persons but of actions and of life." (Butcher 1961). Here
"imitation" meaning 'mimesis'–poet creating a image out of nothing, representing reality itself giving
it form and meaning. Furthermore the actions are the mimesis of the poet...show more content...
The hero is basically a decent person, neither a villain nor a perfection model.
Aristotle says "A man cannot become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall." This
tragic flaw is the hero's own free choice where his death is seen as a human waste. However it is
not of pure loss as greater knowledge and self awareness is highlighted. In Macbeth, he is
introduced as nobility, crowned for bravery as "Thane of Cawdor" The quote, "No more that Thane
of Cawdor shall deceive our bosom interest. Go pronounce his present death, and with his former
title greet Macbeth. What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won", shows Macbeth's nobility. Soon
after which he is doomed, who bears the actions of his own responsibilities – a common trait of a
tragic hero. Aristotle insists that the plot is the principle element of tragedy, the arrangements of the
incidents and how it is presented to the audience together with its structure is the vital component. It
is the incidents and themes of the plot that bring richness and value to the play.
In Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet, the tragedy is emphasized through the characteristics of the
protagonist and the outcome depends on the tightly constructed cause and effects of the superior
characters. In both plays there is incentive moment, climax and a resolution. The incentive moment
is within the compass of the play, in Macbeth the witches visit him to tell him that he will be the
king and occurs exactly after

Tragedy and Comedy Essay
Theater is a natural outlet for our desire to hear and tell stories, and in some ways it is even more
primal and powerful than the written word. At its worst, theater will merely bore; while at its best it
will not only entertain but move and shape its audience. Two such genres of theater, or drama, have
consistently achieved this effect. Tragedy, represented by the weeping actors' mask, usually features
the title character's fall from greatness to ruin, guided by the gods or fate. Oedipus Rex, written by
Sophocles, is the epitome of classic Tragedy, as defined by Aristotle (96–101). Here, Oedipus falls
from kingship to blindness and exile. Drama's other great genre, Comedy, is represented by the
laughing actors' mask. In Comedy the...show more content...
At their core, Comedy and Tragedy are two sides of the same coin. Without characters, there
would not be a story. Whether that character is a human being or an idea, we need something or
someone that can be the reflection of something real onstage. In Oedipus Rex the main character
is a young king. On the surface, one might not relate to a rich, powerful king destined to ruin by
mythical gods. The Greeks, however, believed that "tragedy could only befall the great." (Jacobus
34) Oedipus' character resonated because he was above them. If it were a plebeian who killed his
father and married his mother, it would be our equivalent of an inbred trailer–park tabloid story. His
nobility is what keeps the dramatic from becoming the melodramatic. So for the Greeks, Oedipus'
story became a classic because he achieved that perfect balance of nobility and relatability. They
experienced fear when Oedipus, a man in a position just under the gods, fell and failed. But both
modern man and the ancient Greek can experience pity because we can see part of ourselves in
Oedipus. When Oedipus is helpless to escape his fate, part of us shares his frustration. His
humanity is timeless. While a Comedy's main character does not require us to feel pity or fear, we
still must relate, albeit in different ways. In Lysistrata, the main character is a confident and
quick–witted and although she is subject to sexist

Tragedy Essay
Kenny Fleming
Mr. Blocker– Period 2
Due: 4/2/12
Tragedy From Afar
Catharsis, the dramatic event that describes the "emotional cleansing" of the general audience,
prevails in many tragedies. It provides an extreme change in emotion, as the result of experiencing
strong feelings. It has been described as "purification" or a "purging" of emotions (Aristotle 22).
Shakespeare's Macbeth represented a tragedy, because of the loss and destruction of lives. More
specifically, the large–scale destruction and loss that resulted was Macbeth's rise to power, ruling,
and downfall. Arthur Miller's The Crucible illustrates a tragedy due to intense emotional suffering
brought on by the accusations of former friends, manipulation, infidelity,...show more content...
A widely publicized real life tragedy revolved around a New York mom who had at least 10 drinks
and smoked marijuana before driving five children the wrong way down a highway and crashing
head on into an SUV. She was killed instantly and also took the lives of her 2–year–old daughter and
three nieces, also in her van, as well as three men who were in the SUV. Her 5–year–old son was the
lone survivor of the crash. "Schuler had a blood alcohol content of .19, more than double the legal
limit, and was also impaired by marijuana, which just further exacerbated the problem", according to
state attorney Janet Difiore. At one point her 8–year–old niece called her father to say her aunt was
behaving strangely. Unfortunately, while the family attempted to monitor Schuler and the children's
location, they were unsuccessful. An event, which results in the untimely death of young children,
always evokes tremendous emotion. This event, well popularized and viewed by many, serves as a
key reminder in helping us deal with suffering we may experience on our own. By reading about
this story, we feel these emotions from a safe distance to better prepare ourselves. This is why a
topic/event with tragedy like this draws a large amount of attention.
Tragedies in all of these examples are similar due to the effect they have on the audience. In each of
these books and real life events, there are common elements causing an emotional effect on the
audience. For the most part, these

The Great Gatsby As A Tragedy Essay
The Great Gatsby As A Tragedy
A hurried read of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby can generate a tragic impression. The
deaths of three of the main characters and the failure of Gatsby and Daisy's romance can be viewed
as tragic.
However, a deeper analysis of the book reveals a much deeper tragedy.
The relentless struggles of Gatsby himself parallel Fitzgerald's apparent ideas of the struggles of all
Americans. The American dream romanticized by the majority of the population is really
unattainable because it is, in fact, nonexistent.
Every character has an unfortunate role and could be called a tragic character. However, the main
tragedy is that of the title character.
Gatsby experiences nothing but tragedy in his...show more content...
Gatsby's final tragedy is his death. Gatsby made a great effort to achieve his dreams, but in the end
his efforts were futile.
Fitzgerald was obviously appalled at the general state of society in the 1920s. He appears to have
been particularly saddened by the decayed social and moral values of the well–established American
aristocracies. The old wealth seen on East Egg and the people attending Gatsby's parties signify the
careless materialism of the time. Tom and Daisy are prime examples of this. They outrage Nick
and by the end of the novel he decides that they are "careless peopleГўв‚¬В¦they smashed up things
and creatures and then retreated back into their money" (187). As seen through the disappointed
eyes in Dr. Eckleburg's glasses on the billboard at the Valley of the Ashes, the world itself was in a
tragic state. The distinct social classes are what kept
Gatsby and Daisy apart. In the beginning, it was his lack of money that made them unable to be
together. After they are reunited, it is the great division of the old and new wealth that keeps them
apart.
Gatsby could never be accepted into Daisy's social class because on
East Egg he could not have self–made wealth.
The novel ends with Gatsby's death and subsequent funeral. These are representative of the final
death of the American dream. Gatsby's life work had turned out to be for nothing. Although he has
many acquaintances and doesn't "want any trouble with anybody" (48), he has
no

Hamlet- A Revenge Tragedy Essay
Hamlet is one of Shakespeare's most well–known tragedies. At first glance, it holds all of the
common occurrences in a revenge tragedy which include plotting, ghosts, and madness, but its
complexity as a story far transcends its functionality as a revenge tragedy. Revenge tragedies are
often closely tied to the real or feigned madness in the play. Hamlet is such a complex revenge
tragedy because there truly is a question about the sanity of the main character Prince Hamlet.
Interestingly enough, this deepens the psychology of his character and affects the way that the
revenge tragedy takes place. An evaluation of Hamlet's actions and words over the course of the
play can be determined to see that his 'outsider' outlook on society,...show more content...
One symptom of Schizophrenia is finding oneself incapable of communicating with society. It is
possible that Hamlet is Schizophrenic because, given the way that Hamlet feels unable to trust the
likes of Claudius, Gertrude, and the other characters, it could suggest a reasoning for his acts of
insanity being a way to communicate.
Well known is it that the main plot of Hamlet is outlined by revenge. Upon learning the
circumstances of his father's death, Hamlet's attitude shifts. Once a saddened mourner, Hamlet
becomes a man on a mission for revenge. When the ghost of Hamlet's father brings the news to the
awestruck Hamlet, Hamlet is appalled by the "Foul and most unnatural murder" (1.5, 31). Hamlet
immediately promises the ghost the retribution he desires, claiming that he will seek swift
vengeance against his father's murder to prove his love for him: "Haste me to know't that I, with
wings as swift as meditation or the thoughts of love, may sweep to my revenge" (1.5, 35–37).
Ironically, Hamlet promises the ghost a swift revenge, though his revenge is anything but quick. The
theme of delayed activity reoccurs throughout the plot of the story, because, consistently, the
protagonist's time–table for accomplishing the task is slowed due to his pondering of moral issues.
Hamlet's Mousetrap scene is a perfect

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